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L. J. FROHN. I BACKING MAC'HINE FOR BOOKS, TABLETS, AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.10, 1916.

1,304,760. Patented May 27, 1919;

2 SHEETS-SHEET l. I

- In ventor:

. Q by% i st:

, L.J.FROHN. BACKING MACHINE FOR BOOKS, TABLETS, AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED APR I0, I9I6.

' 1,304,760. Patented May 27,1919. 2 $HEETSS HEET 2 u n 12 25 El] 34 23L f 50 24 28 I wing 42 5' 41 Inventor:

'spondence or adjustment in position of the able, satisfactory andotherwise improved application to a machine such as that shown UNITEDSTATES PATENTOFFICE.

TIJEONARD J. rRoHN, or NEW YORK, 1v. Y.

BACKING-MACHINE FOR BOOKS, TABLETS, AND THE LIKE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEONARD J. FROHNg, a

subject of the Emperor of Germany, and a resident of the city of NewYork, borough of Manhattan, county and Statev of New 'York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Backing-Machines forBook's, Tablets, and the like, of'which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to machines for applying adhesive tape totheedges of assembled sheets in process of forming the same- -into. abook, pad, tabletor thev like, wlth more particular reference tomechanism 1n such machines for insuring :exact -corre edges ofthesuperposed sheets to be taped,

- and to mechanism for insuring-more nearly .perfect'uniformity' 1n thetaping operation,

having in view'a more uniformly dependproduct.

The present. invention, while capable of adaptation to many known. typesof taping machines, is more particularly designed for and described inpatent toJoseph Hren, No. 1,252,114, dated J anuaryl, 1918, wherein thepiles of assembled sheets to be taped are successively fed into themachine, a continuous tape with a suitable adhesive thereon beingapplied'to the edges of each advancing pile of sheets, and a cut-ofimechanism being provided to automatically sever the tapestrip betweenthe taped books or pads prior to final discharge or ejectment of thefinished or partially finished work.

Where these piles of assembled sheets are consecutively fed into themachine by hand, it will be apparent that in spite of the employment ofsuitable guidingmeans and the exercise of thegreatest care, the edge ofeach pile to be taped will not be invariablyadvanced through theltapingmechanism with said edge parallel to the direction of advanc ingmovement. As it is important, if not essential, that the edges of thesuperposed sheets be inpractically perfect register and the edge of eachsheet contact with the adhesive tape, which is folded over-and *ressedagainst the-tsp and bettem sheets at repile,

' Specification of Letters Patent. Patented May 27,.19 19. Applicationfiled April 10, 1916. Serial lll' o. 90,035. A

it will be apparent that in bringing together said sheet-edges and tapein the tape-applying operation, some means should be pro- -vided toautomatically insure continuous 2 contact between the tape and the edgeof the 5 plle of sheets, irrespective of slightly imthe operative.

proper positioning of eachpile of sheets by Furthermore, in-foldin g'over the top portion 'of the tape and applyingthe same to the top sheetof the pile, it has been found that best results are obtained throughthe employment of a rotary brush, such as that shown and described inthe Hrenpatent,

- aforesaid, butit will be noted that while the bristles on one side ofsaid brush move in a; .1 direction which causes them to tend to stretchthe tape, "smooth out the same on the top of the pile, and-yieldinglypress it downupon the top sheet, the bristles on the other sideof saidbrushhavea reverse or undoingtend- -ei1cy, on which account thebrush istilted or inclined for thepnrpose of elevating the ends of the'bristleson one sidethereof sufhcient to clearthefpressed tape, leavingeffectively operative only the bristles on the side of saidbrush whichare moved toward the edgeof the tape. It has been-found, however, thatdesired effect on the. other side thereof is minimized. I have,therefore, found it desirableif not essential to best results to provideauxiliaryor supplemental means for insurin the clearance to which I havere ferred above. Furthermore, tape-pressing means other than the brushhave been found desirable, in

. order to produce not only a product which is compact, buta product towhich the tape. has been evenly and firmly applied.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of means,in connection with a taping machine of the character to i which I havereferred, forperformingthe' I desirable functions set forth above, andto provide a machine which embodies other minor improvements tothe endof insuring a uniformly high grade product. p L v y. i ventiee'will be radily finder stood by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, in Which Figure 1 is a side elevation of thetop portion of a taping machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view thereof;

Figs. 3 and a are enlarged fragmentary sections taken substantially onthe lines 33 and l l, respectively, of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken substantially on theline 5-5 of.

continuously unrolled from a reel thereof,"

or for moistening a dry adhesive which has already been applied to oneside of said tape. This gumming or moistening mechanism is not shown inthe drawings, as it forms no part of the present invention, but apractical and convenient form thereof is shown and described in detailin the patent to Hren, aforesaid. For the purpose of this description,it will sufiice to state that from the gumming or moistening device, thetape 9 is directed upwardly over the driven roller 10 which advancessaid tape and delivers the same to and upon the curved guideplate 11suitably secured at the edge of the table top. This guide plate 11 isgradually transversely curved or :bent upwardly to form a substantiallyvertical port-ion 12 at the far end thereof, and the tape 9 is directedover the roller 10 in such manner that a substantial portion of one edgethereof travels along the horizontal portion of the end of the plate 11,while the major portion thereof is upwardly directed by the verticalportion 12 of said plate, giving the advancing tape a substantiallyL-shaped cross-sectional configuration, with the upper edge thereofprojecting above the topof the pile of sheets to be taped.

The edge of the table top 7 is provided with a vertical guide plate 13,against which the dge of each pile of superposed sheets to be rec'ted'mto the feeding'mec'hanism, in such taped is adjusted by hand prior tofeeding said pile, in the direction of the arrow, between the presserbelt 14, mounted upon the outer face of the endless chain 15, and alower belt 14 carried on the outer face of the endless chain 15'. Thechain 15 passes over the sprocket wheels 16 and 17 the latter beingprovided with a bevel-gear 18 in mesh with a bevel-gear 1'9 on thedriving shaft 20, and the chain 15 passes over the sprocket wheels 16and 17', the latter carrying a bevel-gear 18 in mesh with a similar gear19 on said driving shaft 20.

advancing tape, against which the pile is pressed and the pilecompressed to more compact form by the flat leaf-spring 21 suit ablylocated for this purpose. That portion of the tape which has beenlongitudinally folded at substantially right angles to" saidhorizontally disposed portion, is now in position for folding the topedge thereof over the top'sheet of the pipe. It may :be, L

however, that the pile of'blanks to be taped is for somereason'improperly directed into the taping mechanism, and if this is thecase the registering edges of the sheets of the pile will not be broughtinto contact with the vertical portion of the adhesive tape throughoutthe'whole extent of said edges,

and the taped book or pad will therefore be imperfect andunsatisfactory. To efl'ect substantially continuous con-tact, in spiteof careless or faulty manual feedmg, and to insure better registrationof continuous edges of the sheets of the pile, I mount upon the tabletop 7 a. bracket 22 carrying the pin or post 23', upon which isadjustably mounted the split collar 24.- to which is secured theresilient arm 25 spring-pressed in the direction of the table top. Thisspring arm 25 is preferably of leaf-spring form,

and the upper-edge of the free end thereof is in-tu'rned, or the armotherwise provided with a flange 26, tapering downwardly toward the topof the pile of advancing sheets, whereby the upwardly projecting portionof the advancing tape 9 is folded over the top of the pile 27 of thesheets to be taped, as best shown in Fig. 4:. A notch or recess 28 isprovided in the edge of the plate 11, permitting inward movement of theend of the spring arm 25 beyond the plane of the vertical portion 12 ofthe guide-way.

Should a pile of sheets be improperly dimanner that the edge thereof tobe taped does not abut against the vertical portion 12 of the plate 11,or be slightly inclined horizontally from the planeof said verticalportion 12, the end edge of the arm 25,

which is being yieldingly pressed against the flexible tape toward theedge of the pile of'sheets being taped, will press the vertical portionof said tape against the side edge of the pile. In this manner, I insuresubstantially uniform contact between the end edges of the sheets 'beingtaped and the vertical portion of the taping strip, the recess 28permitting of the assembled sheetsbeing followed by the spring-pressedarnr2'5 to '25, the now partially taped books or pads pass under therotary brush 29, which is tilted or inclined, as shown, in order thatthe bristles 30 on the near side thereof will wipe or rub over thefolded portion of the tape toward the edge thereof, while the bristleson the-far side of said brush are raised clear of the tape in order thatmovement thereof may not undo, or partially undo, the work which hasbeen done by the effectively operating bristles on the'near side of thebrush. The brush 29 is rotated from the shaft 33 which is flexiblyconnected with the inclined brush shaft in a common and well-known'manner, the shaft'33 being rotated from the driving shaft 20 bymeans ofa belt 31 passing around a'pull'ey 32' on thelatter and a pulley" 32',on Y the" former, all as shown and 25 described in the patent to I-Iren,aforesaid. Furthermore, to insure against the poss1- bility of reverseor undoing effect of the brush bristles on the far side of said brush,in addition to tilting or inclining the latter Iprovide the flatleaf-spring 34, so curved or in turned that the free end thereofispresented to the advancing pile of taped sheets, lying flat againsttheupper taped edge thereof. The end 35 of this spring 34f is sharplyincurved upon itself, as best shown in Fig.3, to provide a rounded edge,so that it may not engage 'andobstruct or impede movement of theadvancing work or partially detach the tape from the pad or'pile'beforethe adhesive has set. I 1 7 V This spring plate'34 is so located thatthe edge 35 is beneath the brush 29,111- such position with relationtheretothat'at the point where the revolving bristles 30 start upontheir return movement toward the edge of the pad, they are lifted fromthe latter and *carried along the base of said plate out of contact withthe tape, and are therefore incapable of applying forces which mightotherwise tend to loosen ordisplace said tape. l

I have found," however, that the brush 29 alone, while performing a mostuseful function, is not absolutely dependable; asa means forinsuringsubstantially continuous adhesion between the tape and the'work;' To

com lete or perfect the (taping operation, therefore, I prefer topass-the taped edge of the work over an idler roller 36 and under,presser roller .36, the latterebeing locatedat the end of the arm 37pivoted on the pin 33, and being under yielding pressure'from the spring41 in compression between said arm '37 and the head 42 atthe end of thead jutting screw 43,

I115 roller '86 insures complete and continuous adhesion of the tape toboth sides of the edges of the books or pads which are being carried bythe belts 14 and 14 to suitable mechanism for severing the tape-stripbetween adjacent pads'or books, and thus delivering the latter in aseparated condition-this cut-off mechanism not being shown inthe drawingas it forms no part of the present invention. 7

By means ofthe several improvement hereinbefore described, I find that Ican produce' a high-grade product of uniformly superior qualities. 7-Ma'ny modifications of minor details'of my improved tape-applyingmechanism for book-backing machines will doubtless read-v 1ly suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art to which it appertains, andItherefore i do not desire to limit my invention to'the specificconstruction herein shown and described;

I claimas new and de'sire'to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a machine for backing books, tablets or the like, the'combination,with means for advancing substantially rectangular work units incontinuous procession throughthe machine, of means for folding aroundcorresponding side edges of the advancing units successively acontinuousadhesive strip of flexible material, said folding means including means for yieldingly pressing the advancing strip toward and againstthe contiguous edge of each unit in transit.

2. In a machine for backing books, tablets and the like, thecombination, with means for advancing substantially rectangular workunits in continuous procession through the machine, of means for foldingaround "corresponding side edges of the advancing units successively acontinuous adhesive strip of flexible material, said folding meanscomprising separate devices one of which also provides means foryieldingly pressing the 'advancing strip toward and against thecontiguous edge of each unit in transit.

] 3. In a'machine for backing books, tablets and thelike," therombination, with" means for advancingindividual piles of assembledsheets successively into andth'rough the ma chine,*of yielding means forcompacting the edge ,to be taped of eachlpile, means for folding aroundsaid'compacted edges successively a continuous adhesive strip offlexible material, a portion of said folding'm'eans incl-uding means foryieldingly pressing said "strip toward and against the edge of each pileprior .to completion of the folding op eration, and means for yieldinglypressing the'tape edges against the sides of each' 'p l'e to lnsurecontinuous and uniform adhesive contact betweensaid tape and theportions atlas '11 ii 4? of the pile to which it is applied. 4. In amachine for'backmg backs,

and the like, the cc-inhalation, with mes-1s for advancing individualpiles of assembled sheets successively into and through the machine, andmeans for correspondingly advancing a continuous adhesivestrip offlexible material, of means for directing said strip to successivecontact with correspondoperation, said last-mentioned means being alsoyieldingly operable to press the middle portion of the tape in towardand against the edge of each pile in transit.

*5. In a machine for backing books, tablets and the like, thecombination, with means for advancing individual piles of assembledsheets successively into and through vthe machine, and means forcorrespondingly advancing a continuous adhesive strip of flexiblematerial, of means for directing said strip to successive contact withcorresponding side edges of the advancing piles, said directing meansalso-operating to apply one edge of said; strip to one side ofthecontiguous edge of each pile and rectangularly foldthe remainder of saidstrip longitudinally for subsequent application of the other edgethereof to theother side of the edge of said pile, and means forcompleting the folding operation, said last-mentioned means comprising aguide-arm which is also springactuated toward said pile and which isprovided with a vertical edge at the end there of adapted to beyieldingly carried beyond the normal path of movement of the contiguousedge of said pile.

6. In a machine for backing books, tablets and the like, thecombination, with means for advancing individual piles of assembledsheets-successively into and through the machine, yielding means forcompacting each pile at or near the edge thereof tobe taped, and meansfor advancing a continuous strip of adhesive tape, of means fordirecting said tape to the compacted side edge of each pile in transit,said directing means also operating to apply one edge of said tape toone side of the contiguous edge of each pile and rectangularly fold theremainder of said tape longitudinally for subsequent application of theother edge thereof to the other side of the edge of said pile, means forcompleting the folding operation, said last-mentioned means being alsoQoperable to yieldingly press the middle portion of the tape toward andagainst the contiguous edge of each pile in transit, and means foryieldingly pressing the tape edges against the sides of each pile to,insure continuous and uniform adhesive contact between tape and theportionsof the pile to which it is applied.

7. In a machine for backing books, tablets and the-like, thecombination, with means for advancing substantially rectangular workumts successivelyinto and through the machine, and means-forlongitudinally applying adhesive tape around one side edge of each unitin transit, of a member rotatable about a substantially verticallydisposed axis .and presenting a yielding face to the tape portion on oneside of each pile in turn to exert rubbing pressure thereagainst, and

means interposed between the tape and that shifting portion of saidmember, the general directionof rotation of which is from the.edgetoward the fold of the rubbed portion of said tape to intercept allrubbing forces which would otherwise be exerted in saidgeneraldirection.

' 8. In a mach-'ne for backing books, tablets and the like, thecombination, with means for advancing individual piles of assembledsheets su'cessively into and through the machine, and means forlongitudinally applyingan adhesive tape around one side edge of each ofsaid piles in transit, said means being adapted to first apply said tapeto one side of the pile at its edge and subsequently fold said tapearound said edge and upon the other side of said pile, of a memberrotatable about a substantially vertically disposed axis and presentinga yielding face to the tape portion last applied ,to the pile to exertrubbing pressure thereagainst, and means interposed between the tape andthat shifting portion of said member, the general direction of rotationof which is from the edge toward the fold of the rubbed portion of saidtape to intercept all rubbing forces which would otherwise be exerted insaid general direction.

9. In a machine for j'back-ing books, tablets and the like, thecombination, with means for advancing individual piles of assembledsheets successively into and through the ma chine, and means forlongitudinally applyingadhesive tape around one side edge of each pilei'n transit, of a member rotatable about a substantially verticallydisposed axis and presenting a yielding face to the tape portion on oneside of the pile to exert rubbing pressure thereagainst, said memberbeing slightly tilted to raise the shifting side thereof which. ismoving over the pile toward the edge thereof,and means interposedbetween the raised side of said member and said tape to positivelyintercept and receive 12511 rubbing forces on this side of said memer. a

10. In a machine for backing books, tablets and the like, thecombination, with means for advancing individualpiles of assembledsheets successively into and throu h the, machine, means forlongitudinaily lac applying an adhesive tape around one side edge ofeach of said piles in transit, said means being adapted to first applysaid tape to one side of the pile-edge and subsequently fold said tapearound said edge and upon the other side of said pile, of a memberrotatable about a substantially vertically disposed axis and presentinga yielding face to the tape portion last applied to the pile to, exertrubbing pressure thereagainst, said member being slightly tilted toraise the shifting side thereof which is moving over the pile toward theedge thereof, and means interposed between the raised side of saidmember and said tape to Ipositively intercept and receive all rubbingorces on this side of said member.

11. In a machine for backing books, tablets and the like, thecombination, With means for advancing individual piles of assembledsheets successively into and through the machine, and means forlongitudinally applying a strip of adhesive tape around one side edge ofeach pile in transit, of a brush rotatable about a substantiallyvertically disposed axis and having bristles on the side thereofpresented to the tape portion on one side of the pile being taped andadapted to wipe said portion, and means interposed between said tape andthat shifting portion of said brush the general direction of rotation ofwhich is from the edge toward the fold of the rubbed portion of saidtape to raise clear of the latter the bristles not moving in suchgeneral direction. 7 12. In a machine for backing books, tablets and thelike, the combination, with means for advancing individual piles ofassembled sheets successively into and through the machine, and meansfor longitudinally applying a strip of adhesive tape around one sideedge of each of said piles in transit, said means being adapted to firstapply said tape to one side of the pile-edge and subsequently fold saidtape around said edge and upon the other side of said pile, of a brushrotatable about a substantially vertically disposed axis and havingbristles on the side thereof pr sented to the tape portion last appliedto the pile being taped and adapted to wipe said portion, and meansinterposed between said tape and that shifting portion of said brush thegeneral direction of rotation of which is from the edge toward the foldof the rubbed portion of said tape to raise clear of the latter thebristles not moving in such general direction. I

In testimony of the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand in thepresence of two witnesses.

LEONARD J. FROHN. Witnesses:

H. R. CONWAY,

GoLDIE L. ECKSTEIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

